Damned Cascades: The Stochasticity of Behavioral Models vis-à-vis the Motivations of First Movers, and the Mechanics of Popular Movements
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Miner Jr, William Lynn
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Miner Jr, William Lynn. 2022. Damned Cascades: The Stochasticity of Behavioral Models vis-à-vis the Motivations of First Movers, and the Mechanics of Popular Movements. Master's thesis, Harvard University Division of Continuing Education.Abstract
This study shows that there is a correlation between the founders and co-founders of start-ups and first movers in popular uprisings in terms of their motivations at different points in their respective journeys. It argues that first movers, like startup founders and co-founders, are altruistically motivated in their approach to action—that is, their philosophy is altruistically informed—self-interested in their risk aversion and ultimate risk assumption. Because startup founders and co-founders face high-risk, low-reward conditions similar to those with which first movers in popular uprisings are met, they were employed as a proxy. Startup founders and co-founders were surveyed to assess their motivations as they pertain to three hypotheses: (1) First movers are altruistically motivated in their approach to action; (2) First movers are self-interested in their approach to action; (3) First movers’ risk aversion and risk assumption is ultimately dictated by self-interest. The results of the surveys were then applied to the cases of Ted Kaczynski, Anders Behring Breivik, and Vladimir Lenin in order to demonstrate their validity.Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAACitable link to this page
https://nrs.harvard.edu/URN-3:HUL.INSTREPOS:37373900
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